Venison (2024)

What is venison?

The term venison was originally used to describe the meat of any furred game, but in Britain it has come to mean the meat from deer (though in America it means the meat from antelope, caribou, elk, moose and reindeer, as well as deer). The meat is dark, lean and generally tender, though wild venison might be a little tougher than farmed, as the deer will have had more exercise.

Age has an influence on the level of tenderness – the younger the animal, the more tender the meat – as well as other factors, such as diet and the way the animal has been handled since it was killed.

How to prepare venison

Cuts are sold ready for cooking. Less tender cuts, such as shoulder, benefit from being marinated for up to two days before cooking.

How to cook venison

Brown it in hot oil, then roast (about 10 mins per 500g). Grill, barbecue or fry (brown quickly, then cook for one min on each side).

For recipe inspiration, see our venison collection.

How to store venison

In the fridge, wrapped, for up to two days. If you're marinating your venison, keep the meat with its mix on the bottom shelf of the fridge for up to two days, in a covered container. Take out of the fridge around one hour before cooking, to allow it to return to room temperature.

When is venison in season?

Farmed is available all year round. Wild roe deer can be found all year round. Wild red and fallow deer is in season from 21 October to 15 February.

Choose the best venison

The meat should have a deep colour, with a dense texture. There shouldn't be too much fat, but what there is should look white and firm – avoid any that is yellow and greasy.

Choose your cut according to what you want to do with it.

For roasting, choose whole fillet; saddle (bone in); loin (boneless saddle); haunch (back leg, either on the bone or boned and rolled); or shoulder (boned and rolled).

For grilling, barbecuing, or frying, choose loin steaks (either medallions or filet mignon); shoulder steaks; or haunch steaks (topside and silverside).

For braising and pot-roasting, choose haunch (on the bone or boned and rolled); shoulder (on the bone or boned and rolled); or shank (foreleg).

For stews and casseroles, choose shin or boneless shoulder. Venison liver is also good to eat, with a sweet flavour and a tender texture. Try it gently fried, or in pâtés or terrines. Venison mince is good to use for burgers and sausages.

Alternatives to venison

Try rabbit.

Venison (2024)

FAQs

Is it healthy to eat venison every day? ›

While venison is slightly higher in cholesterol than other types of meat, it's also lower in calories and saturated fat. Therefore, venison can fit into a well-rounded diet — just remember to enjoy it in moderation and pair it with a variety of other nutrient-dense sources of protein.

What kind of meat is venison? ›

What Kind of Meat Is Venison? Although venison is most commonly meat from deer, the term technically refers to the meat from any game animal including elk, caribou or antelope. In fact, the word “venison” is derived from the Latin word venari, which means to hunt or pursue.

Is venison worth eating? ›

Not only is Venison a very lean meat it also is a more sustainable choice as controlling growing deer populations in the UK is essential to protect woodland wildlife. Venison is low in fat, high in protein and packed with vitamins and iron.

Why is venison the best meat? ›

Venison is a great source of protein, incredibly low in fat, and its levels of saturated fat are much lower than in other red meats like beef. It also contains minerals that are good for our health, including iron, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc as well as vitamins B6 and B12, riboflavin, niacin, and thiamine.

What are the disadvantages of eating venison? ›

Eating venison fresh isn't recommended because of how common parasites and tapeworms are. Even in homemade jerky and fermented sausages, E. coli can stay in the deer's intestinal tract. You should steam, roast, or boil venison to 165 degrees Fahrenheit before drying.

Can you survive on only deer meat? ›

It's simply unfeasible for most Americans to survive on venison alone (or even have it become a major part of their diet). So for those of us who do eat venison for the majority of our meals, we should do our best to enjoy every bite.

What is venison in the Bible? ›

Is derived (through the French venaison) from the Latin venari, "to hunt," and means properly "the spoils of the chase." As, however, the object of the chase, paragraph excellence, was the deer, venison came to mean usually (as it invariably does in modern English) "deer's flesh." But in English Versions of the Bible ...

Which is healthier, bison or venison? ›

Bison does, however, contain slightly more zinc, vitamin B12 and selenium than venison. That being said, the nutritional differences between bison and venison are minimal. Enjoy both as part of a healthy diet to take advantage of the unique health benefits that each has to offer.

Is venison meat expensive? ›

You won't see venison in ordinary supermarkets. At Wagshall's, a specialty food shop in Washington, I found venison loin selling for $40 a pound. This venison comes from farms, usually from a species of very large deer called red deer.

Is venison anti-inflammatory? ›

Game meats have a unique makeup of amino acids, fatty acids, and micronutrients that offer a range of anti-inflammatory health benefits. This specific blend of different vitamins and minerals impact the time it takes to break down, absorb and turn that food into fuel.

Is deer meat healthier than hamburger? ›

Given that deer are leaner than cows, venison is generally healthier to eat than beef. An average cut of venison, in fact, has around half the calories and a sixth the saturated fats of a similarly sized cut of beef. It also has more proteins, vitamins and minerals than beef.

Why is venison so delicious? ›

When people describe venison taste and texture, they often use words like rich or earthy; this is a festive-tasting meat, often imbued with hints of the acorns, sage and herbs that the deer enjoyed during its life. It's also considered to be less juicy and succulent than beef, but also smoother and firmer.

Why isn t deer meat popular? ›

In the United States, venison is less common at retail due to the requirement that the animal first be inspected by USDA inspectors. There are very few abattoirs which process deer in North America, and most of this venison is destined for restaurants.

Why is venison so gamey? ›

Deer fat is generally bitter, unlike beef fat. This is probably the number one reason why folks think venison, particularly ground venison, tastes gamey.

What does deer meat do to your body? ›

Venison as a protein source is gaining ground in many households. The nutritional value of venison out performs red meat in leanness, less fat and overall calories. Venison is high in essential amino acids and in addition, a rich source of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron, and zinc.

When should you not eat deer meat? ›

Do not shoot, handle or eat meat from deer and elk that look sick or are acting strangely or are found dead (road-kill). When field-dressing a deer: Wear latex or rubber gloves when dressing the animal or handling the meat.

Is deer meat inflammatory? ›

Eating red meat (and meat in general) may contribute to inflammation because of its saturated fat content, according to a study published in Public Health Nutrition. Red meat includes more than just hamburger and steak — it's also lamb, goat and venison.

How much deer meat can you eat? ›

The deer's realistic meat yield is about 58.15 pounds. Because waste can vary between deer to deer, we suggest using the “realistic” figure as a gauge. In the above example, the buck's realistic meat yield would range from 58 to 68 pounds.

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